Guide · Live stations
How to choose your live stations.
Which counters, how many, and where they go. The difference between a room that flows and a room that queues.
Live stations are the most-requested and least-planned part of a UAE event. Hosts pick them by appetite, which is reasonable, and then discover that three counters in one corner produce one long queue instead of three short ones.
Stations are a floor-plan decision first and a menu decision second. Here is how to make both.
Prices and policies on this page are the ones our booking engine uses. Last reviewed .
The thirteen
Every station we run.
- Live wok, to order, with your choice of sauce.
- Live tandoor and charcoal barbecue.
- Tak-a-tak, vegetarian and mutton.
- Live chaat: pani puri, papdi, dahi chaat.
- Curry noodle: khao suey, laksa, Thai curry.
- South Indian: dosa, uttapam, appam with stew.
- Eggs and paratha.
- Pasta and salad.
- Breakfast station.
- Live jalebi and dessert.
- Live sushi, cut by the Oh! Sushi team.
- Live ice gola.
- Live sugarcane juice.
Cost
What each counter adds.
The Classic package includes no station, Premium includes one and Luxury includes two, so the first one or two counters are often already paid for in the per-head rate.
| Station | Per guest | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Live dessert / ice-cream | AED 20 | Best late-evening counter |
| Chaat | AED 22 | Strongest arrival station |
| South Indian / dosa | AED 26 | Slowest queue; needs space |
| Grill / shawarma | AED 28 | Needs ventilation or outdoor placement |
| Live wok / pasta | AED 30 | Fast turnover, works mid-event |
| Setup & chef | AED 250 flat | Per station beyond those in your package |
| Gas cylinder | AED 80 | Where the counter needs it |
How many
One counter per 75 to 100 guests.
That ratio assumes a buffet is also running. If stations are the main service rather than a supplement, plan one per 50 guests and expect a queue at each.
Spread them. Two stations at opposite ends of a room serve twice as fast as two stations side by side, because guests self-distribute. Three counters in one corner is the most common and most avoidable mistake.
By event type
What to pick.
- Mehndi or daytime function: chaat, live jalebi, sugarcane juice, ice gola.
- Sangeet: live wok, tak-a-tak, grill. Fast counters for a standing crowd.
- Reception: tandoor, curry noodle, live sushi, dessert.
- Corporate lunch: live wok or pasta. One counter, fast turnover, no queue into the afternoon.
- Home party: chaat or dosa. Self-contained and works in a villa garden.
- Post-wedding brunch: eggs and paratha, dosa, breakfast station.
Logistics
What a counter needs on site.
- Power and water within reach of the counter position.
- Ventilation for grill and tandoor, or an outdoor placement.
- A gas cylinder where the station requires one, at AED 80.
- Its own chef, included in the AED 250 setup fee for extra stations.
- Floor space for a queue that does not cross the buffet line.
Common questions
Answers before you ask.
- How much do live catering stations cost in Dubai?
- AED 20 to AED 30 per guest depending on the counter, plus a flat AED 250 setup and chef fee for each station beyond those included in your package. Gas cylinders, where needed, are AED 80.
- How many live stations should I have?
- About one per 75 to 100 guests if a buffet is also running, or one per 50 if stations are the main service. Spread them across the floor rather than grouping them.
- Which live station is best for arriving guests?
- Chaat. It is fast, vegetarian, holds a queue well and gives people something to do in the first thirty minutes.
- Can live stations run outdoors?
- Yes, and grill and tandoor counters are better outdoors for ventilation. All counters need power, water and safe access.
- Do live stations come with a chef?
- Yes. Each station runs with its own chef, included in the AED 250 setup fee for stations beyond your package allowance.
Keep reading
Related to this page.
- CateringLive station cateringLive station catering in Dubai: chaat, dosa, wok, tandoor, sushi, jalebi and more, cooked in front of your guests. From AED 20 per guest. Thirteen stations available.
- GuidesHow much food to order per guestHow many dishes and how much food per guest for a UAE event: course counts by package, live-station ratios, and how to plan a buffet for 50, 200 or 500 people.
- CuisinesStreet food & chaat cateringLive chaat and street food catering in Dubai. Pani puri, papdi, sev puri, kathi rolls and tak-a-tak, assembled in front of your guests from AED 22 per guest.
- GuidesWhat catering costs per person in DubaiWhat catering actually costs per person in Dubai: real package rates from AED 125, staff at AED 150, transport AED 500 and 5% VAT, with worked totals for 50, 200 and 500 guests.
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